Pump-type dispenser



Oct. 12, 1965 P. MESHBERG 3,211,346

PUMP-TYPE DISPENSER Filed July 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

P/n' [40 Mes/266W T TUR/VE YS Oct. l2, 1965 p, MESHBERG 3,211,346

PUMP-TYPE DISPENSER l Filed July 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

PMU/o Mes/75659 cud md ,97 TOENE YS United States Patent 3,211,346 PUMP-TYPE DISPENSER Philip Meshberg, 1'5 Stoneleigh Road, Fairfield, Conn. Filed July 15, 1964, Ser. No. 382,825 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-263) The present invention relates to a pump-type dispenser for dispensing material from a container having a low pressure gas therein for supplying material from the container to the pump.

Heretofore, dispensing pumps have usually included a ball-type check valve at the inner end of the cylinder in which the pump piston operates which automatically functions in response to movement of the piston in the cylinder to close oil the cylinder from the container as soon as the piston is operated during the pumping operation and to open the connection between the cylinder and container to permit material to be drawn therein during the movement of the piston to a retracted position. In these devices in order to eifectively move the material into the pumping cylinder, it was necessary to vent the container to the atmosphere.

The present invention provides a novel pump-type dispensing device which does not require venting and which is efective in its operation to dispense predetermined quantities of material as required.

In carrying out the present invention the device has a housing mounted on a container having the material to be dispensed therein, which material therein is preferably under the pressure of an inert gas. The housing forms a cylinder for a reciprocating pumping piston and a valve stem is mounted in the housing and passes through the piston so as to have limiting relative movement with respect thereto for operating the same and also controls the ilow of material. The housing at the inner end has a port communicating with the container and has a sealing means therein for sealing a portion of the valve stem passing therethrough. The valve stem, in its normal position, is provided with a bypass passage for bypassing the sealing means so as to enable the material under pressure in the container to be moved into the cylinder or housing. The valve stem is provided with a dispensing passage in its other end which is normally disposed outside of the piston. The stem is moved inwardly by actuating pressure applied thereto. Initial movement of the stem inwardly causes it to move relatively to the piston and causes the inner or inlet passage to be sealed olf and the outer or outlet passage to be moved into the cylinder for the pump. Continued movement of the valve stem will cause the piston to move inwardly and apply pressure to the material in the housing or cylinder and dispense it from a dispensing means carried by the end of the valve stem. The valve stem is normally urged to its outward position and, as soon as actuating pressure is relieved from the stern, it automatically moves to its normal position. This will move the stem relative to the piston and cause the outlet passage to move out of the cylinder. Thereafter the stem moves the piston toward its normal position and just prior to reaching said normal position, the stern will move the inlet passage into its by-pass position and will communicate the container with the cylinder whereupon the material under pressure in the container will ow therethrough and recharge the cylinder.

The present invention has a substantial advantage in that it eliminates the necessity for venting the container and thus protects the material in the container from contamination.

If desired, sealing means can be provided for the dispensing passage which will normally seal it from the atmosphere and which, upon the application of actuating pressure, will cause the sealing means to be removed 3,211,346 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 so that the material can be dispensed from the dispensing means during a dispensing operation and will automatically reseal upon release of the actuating pressure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l shows a sectional view of the pump-type dispenser of the present invention in its normal position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the device at the beginning of a pumping operation.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the cooperating part at the end of a pumping operation.

FIG. 4 is a sectional View of the button showing the sealing means thereon in sealing relation.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a dispensing button having a diierent length stem-receiving bore therein.

The pump type dispenser of the present invention is adapted to be mounted on a container 10 to dispense ma terial therefrom. The device comprises a housing 11 mounted in a mounting cup 12 by having the side walls 13 of the mounting cup crimped under shoulders 14 of the housing. The mounting cup has a flange 15 adapted to be crimped to the mouth of the container 10 as shown in FIG. l to securely hold the device in position thereon. The inner end 16 of the housing 11 is provided with an inlet port 17 connected to the interior of the container. As herein illustrated, the portion of the housing having the port 17 is provided with a dip tube 18 extending into the container.

The outer end of the housing 11 is closed by a resilient sealing member or disk 19 held in position by the transverse top portion 20 of the mounting cup.

The housing forms a chamber cylinder for a piston 21 of rubber or the like material which engages the side walls of the housing and is mounted for sliding movement therein. The piston 21 is backed by a metal plate 21a and provided with a bore 22 for slidably and sealingly supporting a valve stem 23. The inner end 23a of the stem is slidably disposed in the port 17 in the inner end of the housing and preferably passes through a bore 24 in a sealing member or disk 25 disposed within the inner end of the housing. The inner end of the stem is provided with a passage 26 which, as shown in FIG. l, bypasses the sealing member and connects the container to the interior of the housing in the normal position of the valve stem.

The other or outer end 23h of the stem passes through the sealing member 19 and projects beyond the top portion 20 of the mounting cup and is provided with an outer passage 27 which extends longitudinally thereof. The end of the stem is inserted into a bore 28a of a dispensing means or button 28 until it engages the abutment 28b with the button having a discharge passage 29 therein communicating with outer passage 27 to receive material therefrom. The inner end of the outer passage 27 communicates with a lateral passage 27a normally disposed outwardly of the piston, as shown in FIG. 1. The stem is provided with spaced inner and outer abutments 30, 31 disposed on opposite sides of the piston. Preferably the abutments are annular as shown. The stern is normally urged to its outer position by means of a compression spring 32 disposed between the inner abutment 30 and a washer 33 overlying the sealing disk 25. Thus the inner abutment 30 engages the piston and moves it to its normal position as shown in FIG. 1 and also seals the bore 22 therein. The spring and washer also apply pressure to the sealing disk 25 to deform it sutliciently to produce a tight seal between it and the valve stem.

The piston in its normal position is located inwardly of the end of the housing against pressure in the housing by a flange 35 on the plate 21a. The outer abutment is so located on the stem as to provide for limited relative movement with the piston and will engage the piston after a predetermined movement of the stem suficient to move passage 26 to the position of FIG. 2 and seal off the bottom of the housing and at the same time move the lateral passage 27a inside of the piston and into communication with material in the housing. Preferably the length of the flange 35 and the location of the outer abutment on the stem are so related that in the normal position of the stem and piston the abutment engages the under surface of the disk 19 to seal the opening therein through which the stem passes.

The stem can be made in various ways. In the herein preferred form of the invention, it is molded in two parts. The lower part of the stem 38 is formed with the inner abutment 30 and a projecting part 38a. The upper part 39 of the stem is formed as a sleeve having the upper abutment 31 formed thereon and is adapted to be telescoped over the part 38a with a forced iit to form the completed stem with the sleeve cooperating with a groove mold in the part 38a to form the passages 27, 27a. This stem can be readily formed, for example by molding from plastic material and can be easily assembled with the piston.

An understanding of the relation and cooperation of the parts and their function will be had from a description of a dispensing operation. The device is in its normal position in FIG. l of the drawings. In this position the piston 21 has been moved by the inner abutment 30 on the stem under the urging of the spring 32 to the upper part of the housing where it has been stopped by the flange 35. The inner passage 26 on the stem bypasses the seal 25 and enables material in the container to pass into the housing. Also in this position it will be noted that the lateral passage 27a is disposed outwardly of the piston.

Preferably the material in the container is under the influence of a low pressure gas which insures its rapid ow into the housing below the piston Without requiring venting of the container. This is particularly advantageous where it is desired to prevent contamination of the material in the container since an inert gas such as nitrogen can be used for this purpose and the pressure selected at a value, depending upon the nature of the material to be dispensed, only suiiicient to move the material from the container to the housing.

When operating pressure is applied to the button 28 on the stem it moves the stem to the position shown in FIG. 2. has moved relative to the piston and the inner passage 26 has moved through the sealing member at the inner end of the housing and is sealed thereby while the lateral passage 27a has been moved inwardly of the piston. The `outer abutment 31 is in engagement with the back-up plate on the piston so that continued movement of the stem will cause the piston to move downwardly and apply pressure to the material in the housing and will force the material through the lateral passage 27a and outer passage 27 to the dispensing means or button 28 to be dispensed by the device. When the piston has been moved to its innermost position, as shown in FIG. 3, it will be stopped by the spring which is completely compressed and stop the dispensing cycle.

Release of the button at any time during the dispensing operation will cause the spring 32 and the pressure in the container acting on the end of the stem to move the stem outwardly. It will rst move with respect to the piston and move the lateral passage 27a outside of the piston and then the inner abutment 30 engages the piston and moves it outwardly to the normal position. When the stem approaches the outer position, the inner passage 26 will again bypass the seal and the material in the container will be forced into the housing by the gas In this position it will be noted that the stem in the container under low pressure and refill the housing for the next dispensing operation.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a predetermined quantity of material will be dispensed for each complete inward movement of the stern. Should it be desired to dispense a lesser quantity of material, means can be provided for limiting the inward movement of the stern and piston carried thereby. While this may comprise an adjustable stop member carried by the stem or container for limiting the inward movement of the button, in the illustrated form of the invention it is accomplished by providing buttons 128 with bores 128a of different depths as shown in FIG. 5 so that the button projects down over the stem a different amount and will engage the top portion 20 of the mounting cup as shown in dot-and-dash lines of FIG. 5 and limit the inward movement of the stem. Thus, by providing buttons having different length bores 128:1 therein, the device can be set up for dispensing different predetermined amounts.

In some circumstances, because of the nature of the material being dispensed, it may be desirable to seal the discharge passage 29 in the button 28 at the end of each operation to prevent leakage, prevent contamination of the material or to prevent drying of the material in the passage and clogging of the button. To this end a sleeve 40 is positioned to surround the button 28 and is provided with a discharge orifice 41. The sleeve is provided at one end with a transverse wall 42 extending over the end of the button and a spring 43 is disposed between the transverse wall and the end of the button so as to normally urge the sleeve to a position as shown in FIG. 4 with respect to the passage in the button as to seal the same as shown in FIG. 4. It will be seen that the application of the initial pressure on the top of the sleeve will cause it to move downwardly and align the dispensing orifice 41 with the passage 29 and thereafter pressure on top of the sleeve will move the stem inwardly to dispense the material from the housing as before described. When the pressure is relieved from the sleeve, it quickly returns to sealing position while the valve stem returns to its normal position.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. Means for dispensing material from a container having material therein under pressure of a low pressure gas comprising a cylinder having a pumping piston therein in engagement with the sides of the cylinder, said cylinder being connected to the container, a reciprocating valve stem normally projecting from the container and having a dispensing means on the end thereof, said stem having means thereon for operating said piston and means for controlling the flow of material to and from said cylinder, said stem in normal position connecting the cylinder to the container to enable the material to be forced into the cylinder by the gas pressure in the container and without venting the container, initial movement of the stern inwardly from normal position closing off the cylinder from the container and connecting the dispensing means to the cylinder and continued movement of the stem causing the piston to move in the cylinder and force the material therein through the dispensing means.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein means is provided for controlling the inward movement of the stem and the piston carried thereby whereby predetermined quantities of material will be dispensed for each complete inward movement of the stern.

3. A pump type dispenser for .a container having material therein under pressure of a low pressure gas comprising a housing carried by the container and forming a cylinder to receive a pumping piston therein in sealing relation with the sides of the cylinder, said housing having an inlet port at the inner end thereof communicating with the container, a reciprocating valve stem projecting from the container and having a dispensing means on the end thereof, said stem having means thereon for operating said piston and means for controlling the ow of material to and from said cylinder, and spring means normally moving the stem outwardly to said projected position in which said stem connects the housing to the container to enable the material to be forced into said housing by the gas pressure in the container, initial movement of the stern inwardly closing oi the inlet port and connecting the dispensing means to the cylinder and continued movement of the stem causing the piston to move in the cylinder and force the material therein through the dispensing means, and means -stopping the inward movement of the stem after a predetermined movement thereof whereby .a predetermined quantity of material will be dispensed for each complete operation of the stem.

4. A pump type dispenser for a container having material therein under pressure of a low pressure gas comprising a housing carried by the container and forming a cylinder to receive a pumping piston therein in sealing relation with the sides of the cylinder, said housing having an inlet port at the inner end thereof adapted to be connected to the container, a reciprocating valve stem movably mounted in the housing and projecting from the container and having a dispensing means on the end thereof, said stem having means thereon for operating said piston and means for controlling the flow of material to and from said cylinder, and spring means normally moving the stem outwardly to -said projected position in which said stem connects the housing to the container to enable the material to be forced into said housing by the gas pressure in the container, initial movement of the stem inwardly from normal position closing olf the inlet port and connecting the dispensing means to the cylinder and continued movement of the stem causing the piston to move in the cylinder and force the material therein through the dispensing means.

5. A pump-type dispenser for a container having material therein under pressure of a low pressure gas comprising a housing carried by the container and having an inlet port at the inner end thereof communicating with the container, a piston slidable in the housing, a valve stern projecting from the container and having one end slidably mounted in the said inlet port and having a portion slidable in said piston, said stem having spaced inner and outer abutment means disposed on opposite sides of said piston for engaging said piston, spring means normally moving the stem outwardly with the inner abutment engaging the piston and moving the piston .and stem to a normal position in the housing, said stem in said normal position having an inner passage connecting the housing to the container through said port and through which the material is forced by the pressure of the gas in the container into said housing, the project ing end of the stem being provided with an outer passage having one end connected to a dispensing means on the end of the stem and the other end of the passage connected to a lateral passage disposed outwardly of the piston and between said abutments, initial movement of the stem inwardly against the pressure of the spring closing off the inner passage and moving the lateral passage to a position inwardly of the piston and the outer abutment into engagement with the piston whereby continued inward movement of the stem moves the piston and forces the material trapped in the housing through the lateral and outer passages to lbe dispensed from the dispensing means, said spring means returning said stem and piston to normal position upon release yof the stem with the lateral passage moving outwardly of the piston and the inner passage in said stem connecting the housing to the container to ena-ble the housing to be iilled with material under the pressure of the gas in the container.

6. The invention as delined in claim 1 wherein the dispensing means on the stem includes a butt-on having a dispensing aperture, a closure for the -aperture mounted on the button for limited relative movement and spring means normally urging the closure to closing position, initial pressure on the closure causing the closure to move against the spring means and out of closing position and continued pressure causing the stern to move to dispensing position.

7. A pump for dispensing from a container having material therein under pressure of -a low pressure gas comprising a housing carried by the container and having a port and sealing disk at the inner end of the housing communicating with the container, =a piston slidable in the housing, a valve stem projecting from the container and having one end slidably mounted in the said port and sealing disk and having a portion slidable in said piston, said stem having inner and outer abutment means for engaging said piston, a compression spring disposed between the sealing disk and inner abutment and normally moving the stem outwardly with the inner abutment engaging the piston and moving the piston to a normal position, said stem in said normal position having an inner passage by-passi-ng the sealing disk and connecting the housing to the container through said port and through which the material is forced by the pressure in the container into said housing, and Ihaving an outer passage connected to a dispensing means lon the end of the stem and to a lateral passage disposed outwardly of the piston, initial movement of the stern inwardly moving the inner passage from by-passing relation with the sealing disk and closing oir the -bottom passage and moving the lateral passage to a position inwardly of the piston and the outer abutment into engagement with the piston whereby continued inward movement of the stem moves the piston and forces the material trapped in the housing through the outer passage to be dispensed from the dispensing means, said spring being compressed -by the inward movement of the stem and returning said stem and piston to normal position upon release of the stem.

'8. Means for dispensing material from a container having material therein comprising pumping means mounted on the container and sealing the container and including a cylinder and a pumping piston in, `and in sealing relation with the walls `of said cylinder; and means normally urging said piston to one end of said cylinder, the other end of said cylinder being connected to said container to receive said material from the container, said material being under the pressure of a low pressure inert gas and being forced thereby into said cylinder so as to till the cylinder when the piston is in the normal position, movement 0f the piston from said normal position causing the material in the cylinder to be dispensed therefrom.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,362,077 12/20 Bobrick et al. 222-309 2,788,925 4/57 Ward 222-394 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

8. MEANS FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL FROM A CONTAINER HAVING MATERIAL THEREIN COMPRISING PUMPING MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CONTAINER AND SEALING THE CONTAINER AND INCLUDING A CYLINDER AND A PUMPING PISTON IN, AND IN SEALING RELATION WITH THE WALLS OF SAID CYLINDER; AND MEANS NORMALLY URGING SAID PISTON TO ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER, THE OTHER END OF SAID CYLINDER BEING ONNECTED TO SAID CONTAINER TO RECEIVE SAID MATERIAL FROM THE CONTAINER, SAID MATERIAL BEING UNDER THE 